The next European Immunization Week (EIW) will be celebrated on 25–30 April 2016, in conjunction with other WHO regional initiatives and World Immunization Week.

The global theme this year is: Close the immunization gap. In the European Region, countries are focusing on progress towards elimination of measles and rubella, and the need to close the remaining immunisation gaps in order to achieve this goal throughout the Region.

“ No child should be denied the right to immunization for unfair reasons, including economic or social causes. All barriers must be overcome.” Dr Margaret Chan, WHO Director-General

Key messages

• Immunisation is one of the most successful and cost-effective means to help children grow into healthy adults.
• In Ireland by the age of 12 months most children have received the immunisations he or she needs, but approximately of babies in Ireland 10% are not appropriately immunised with all the vaccines they need at this age.
• The Health Services Executive (HSE) has made it a priority to protect the Irish population against vaccine preventable disease.
• The Health Protection Surveillance Centre carefully monitors the progress towards improving vaccination coverage in Ireland.
• Measles outbreaks continue to cause disease and death throughout Europe. In 2015 and into 2016, Ireland continues to see measles among un- and under-vaccinated individuals.

Key facts on national vaccination uptake in Ireland among children aged 12 and 24 months, Q3 2015

• At 12 months of age 
  • 91% for 3 doses of 6-1 vaccine*; 2 doses of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV); and 2 doses of meningococcal C vaccine (MenC)
• At 24 months of age 
  • 95% for 3 doses of 6-in-1 vaccine (D-T-P-Hib-Polio-HepB)
  • 92% for 3 doses of PCV
  • 91% for booster dose of Hib
  • 88% for 3 doses of MenC
  • 93% for one dose of Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) vaccine

Protection against Measles-Mumps-Rubella among preschool children Academic Year 2014/2015

• 91.3% of children in preschool (4-5 years of age) received the MMR vaccine.

This means that nearly 1 in 10 children are vulnerable to measles if they come in contact with the virus. 

For more information on European Immunisation Week 

For information on immunisation uptake in Ireland see the HPSC immunisation page

HSE Immunisation Office website provides information relating to the national programme.

Notes: 
* 6-in-1 vaccine includes vaccines against dipththeria-tetanus-pertussis-H. influenza type B- polio-hepatitis B) (abbreviated as DTP-Hib-Polio-Hep B)